Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening for the purpose of obtaining gene expression modulating elements and gene insulator elements. The invention includes a method of identifying gene expression modulating elements and gene insulator elements through use of the following steps: a) locating intergenic regions of a plant genome that are flanked by a gene on each side that have differing gene expressions b) taking that intergenic region or a portion of that intergenic region and adding it to a cassette comprising an isolated gene c) introducing the cassette into a plant cell d) analyzing expression of the isolated gene. The present invention also includes identified sequences that act as gene expression modulating elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides molecular constructs and methods for use thereof, including constructs including heterologous miRNA recognition sites, constructs for gene suppression including a gene suppression element embedded within an intron flanked on one or on both sides by non-protein-coding sequence, constructs containing engineered miRNA or miRNA precursors, and constructs for suppression of production of mature microRNA in a cell. Also provided are transgenic plant cells, plants, and seeds containing such constructs, and methods for their use. The invention further provides transgenic plant cells, plants, and seeds containing recombinant DNA for the ligand-controlled expression of a target sequence, which may be endogenous or exogenous. Also disclosed are novel miRNAs and miRNA precursors from crop plants including maize and soy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening for the purpose of obtaining gene expression modulating elements and gene insulator elements. The invention includes a method of identifying gene expression modulating elements and gene insulator elements through use of the following steps: a) locating intergenic regions of a plant genome that are flanked by a gene on each side that have differing gene expressions b) taking that intergenic region or a portion of that intergenic region and adding it to a cassette comprising an isolated gene c) introducing the cassette into a plant cell d) analyzing expression of the isolated gene. The present invention also includes identified sequences that act as gene expression modulating elements.

Abstract: A promoter isolated from Zea mays, designated the P95 promoter, provides a high level of specificity for expression in developing pollen, particularly at the mid-uninucleate stage, as confirmed by RT-PCR and Northern blot analyzes of RNA samples from various tissues. Compositions and methods of use of the P95 promoter are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for an inducible promoter for the gene encoding ZmPOX24. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stabling incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing transformed plant cells or organisms by transforming a population of plant cells which comprises at least one marker protein having a direct or indirect toxic effect for said population, with at least one nucleic acid sequence to be inserted in combination with at least one compound, preferably a DNA construct, capable of reducing the expression, amount, activity and/or function of the marker protein, with the transformed plant cells having a growth advantage over nontransformed cells, due to the action of said compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides molecular constructs and methods for use thereof, including constructs including heterologous miRNA recognition sites, constructs for gene suppression including a gene suppression element embedded within an intron flanked on one or on both sides by non-protein-coding sequence, constructs containing engineered miRNA or miRNA precursors, and constructs for suppression of production of mature microRNA in a cell. Also provided are transgenic plant cells, plants, and seeds containing such constructs, and methods for their use. The invention further provides transgenic plant cells, plants, and seeds containing recombinant DNA for the ligand-controlled expression of a target sequence, which may be endogenous or exogenous. Also disclosed are novel miRNAs and miRNA precursors from crop plants including maize and soy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of imparting virus resistance to plants. In one aspect, this method involves silencing a gene encoding a translation initiation factor eIF4E in the plant. In another aspect, this method involves overexpressing a heterologous translation initiation factor eIF4E in a plant. The present invention further relates to a genetic construct containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous translation initiation factor eIF4E, as well as to an expression system containing the genetic construct and a host cell transformed with the genetic construct. The present invention also relates to transgenic plants, seeds, and plant parts transformed with the genetic construct. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant translation initiation factor eIF4E that is effective in imparting virus resistance in plants. The present invention also relates to a mutant translation initiation factor eIF4E and a method for making the mutant.

Abstract: The invention describes virus-based amplification vectors for plants containing additional plant-specific internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element(s) allowing for a polycistronic translation and a cap-independent translation of: a) heterologous gene(s); b) whole viral genome or c) viral subgenomic RNAs. Said IRES elements are of plant viral origin, or they are isolated from other organisms or engineered using different synthesis procedures. Said IRES element(s) and said heterologous gene(s) are inserted into amplification vectors and allow for the expression of said heterologous gene(s) in the absence of additional viral promoters, in particular, said expression is achieved through cap-independent translation.

Abstract: The invention provides an anther-specific expression promoter in plant, wherein said promoter is a promoter of Oncidium aureusidin synthase gene OgAS1, and has a sequence as SEQ ID No: 3. The invention provides further a gene expression cassette that comprised a promoter having a DNA sequence as SEQ ID No: 3, and a polynucleotide that encode an open reading frame and is linked to the 3? end of said promoter, wherein said promoter can activate the transcription of said polynucleotide in an organism containing said gene expression cassette. The invention provides also a gene expression vector that contains a promoter having DNA sequence as SEQ ID No: 3. The invention provides further a process for producing a transgenic plant or part of organ, tissue or cell of said transgenic plant containing the above-described gene expression cassette.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for altering the levels of seed proteins in cereal grain. The invention is directed to the alteration of seed protein levels in plant grain, resulting in grain with increased digestibility/nutrient availability, improved amino acid composition/nutritional value, increased response to feed processing, improved silage quality, and increased efficiency of wet milling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling the development of fungi during a phytopathogenic attack which enables the plant to express a construct for inhibiting the expression of a gene essential to the development or to the pathogenicity of the fungus. The technology used is based on the mechanism of RNA interference. The present invention provides methods for producing plants resistant to a phytopathogenic fungus, plant cells and plants resistant to a phytopathogenic fungus, and methods of identifying a gene essential to the development or to the pathogenicity of a phytopathogenic fungus.

Abstract: Methods and constructs for the introduction of multiple genes into plants using a single transformation event are described. Constructs contain a single 5? promoter operably linked to DNA encoding a modified intein splicing unit. The splicing unit is expressed as a polyprotein and consists of a first protein fused to an intein fused to a second protein. The splicing unit has been engineered to promote excision of all non-essential components in the polyprotein but prevent the ligation reactions normally associated with protein splicing. Additional genetic elements encoding inteins and additional proteins can be fused in frame to the 5?-terminus of the coding region for the second protein to form a construct for expression of more than two proteins. A single 3? termination sequence, follows the last coding sequence. These methods and constructs are particularly useful for creating plants with stacked input traits and/or value added products.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombination systems and methods for eliminating nucleic acid sequences from the chromosomal DNA of eukaryotic organisms, and to transgenic organisms—preferably plants—which comprise these systems or were generated using these methods.

Abstract: Methods and compositions using populations of randomized modified FRT recombination sites to identify, isolate and/or characterize modified FRT recombination sites are provided. The recombinogenic modified FRT recombination sites can be employed in a variety of methods for targeted recombination of polynucleotides of interest, including methods to recombine polynucleotides, assess promoter activity, directly select transformed organisms, minimize or eliminate expression resulting from random integration into the genome of an organism, such as a plant, remove polynucleotides of interest, combine multiple transfer cassettes, invert or excise a polynucleotide, and identify and/or characterize transcriptional regulating regions are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of transgenic plants, tissues or plant cells thereof having long-lasting resistant to the geminiviruses by a) “identification” or “selection” of a viral gene sequence encoding an amino acid sequence able to confer resistance against geminiviruses; b) mutagenesis or “choice” of the viral gene sequence so as to make it an ineffective target of the post-trascriptional silencing induced by infecting geminivirus; and c) insertion of the geminivirus mutated or chosen gene sequence obtained in step b) through a construct as described previously, in the plant, tissue or plant cell thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolation and characterization of novel nucleotide sequences from rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) showing promoter activity in plants. The present invention further relates to the analysis of the functional domains of RTBV promoters by fusing full-length and deleted versions of the RTBV promoter sequences with the bacterial reporter gene GUS. The invention also relates to the study of the expression of the reporter gene in various tissues of transgenic rice and tobacco plants during different stages of development. The present invention also describes an RTBV promoter and its deletions which function in a constitutive or tissue-specific manner to drive the expression of the heterologous nucleic acid sequences in both monocot and dicot plants, cells and tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antifungal protein, AlfAFP1, which is a modified form of an antifungal protein isolated from Medicago plants, the modified form exhibiting enhanced anti-fungal activity for controlling fungal pathogenesis in plants. A method for inhibiting fungal colonization of plants is described which includes preparation of nucleotide sequences encoding the modified antifungal protein, preparation of vectors containing the nucleotide coding sequence, and methods for transforming plants with the nucleotide sequences. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions useful in controlling plant pathogenic fungi.

Abstract: A method of using a tospoviral nucleic acid molecule of the sequence of nt (nucleotide) 3975-4928 in accordance with GenBank Accession No. AF133128 or a full complement thereof comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining at least one fragment made from the tospoviral nucleic acid molecule; (b) obtaining a transgene from the at least one fragment; (c) introducing the transgene into a plant to generate a transgenic plant; (d) culturing the transgenic plant; (e) selecting a transgenic plant with broad-spectrum resistance; and (f) obtaining the transgenic plant with broad-spectrum resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating properties of fruit dehiscence in plants such Brassicaceae plants, specifically to improved methods and means for reducing seed shattering in Brassicaceae plants, particularly the Brassicaceae plants grown for oil production, to a degree which is agronomically important.